THE number of consultants in public hospitals could be increased by spending less on acute hospital beds and more on nursing care, according to a draft document which will be discussed at a conference of the Irish Medical Organisation (IMO) next weekend.
According to Mr Conal Devine, the IMO's director of industrial relations, Ireland has the second lowest number of specialists per 1,000 population in Europe.
The IMO has been calling on the Department of Health for an increase in the number of hospital consultants for a number of years.
In 1993, a report compiled by members of the Department of Health, Comhairle na nOspideal and the Postgraduate Medical and Dental Board found that for every one consultant there were two junior doctors.
The Tierney report recommended that the Department of Health should aim to have an equal number of consultants and junior doctors by 2003.
Where possible a senior trained doctor should see all patients. That isn't possible. At the moment you have a situation where doctors at junior stage, still in training, are making decisions on tests and treatment that can be quite expensive. A more seasoned and trained doctor would make decisions in the patient's best interests", Mr Devine said.
A report in the Irish Medical News says the IMO document recommends rationalising acute hospital care and providing satellite out patient services. Mr Devine said this was one aspect of "a discussion document that hasn't even been discussed yet".
According to Mr Devine, an acute hospital bed costs around £100,000 a year. A bed in a subacute hospital, where there would be more emphasis on nursing care and less on medical treatment, would cost around £25 000 a year.
"The main point of the document is the immediate requirement for an increase in the number of consultants."
Mr Devine said most junior doctors could not expect to become consultants until they were in their late 30s.
He said 38 per cent of junior doctors in the State are non EU nationals, as most Irish doctors choose to train abroad under better training regimes.
"The Department of Health has said things are going to change. This is the start of the process."
